Having already won caps for the England under-21s and England B team, he gained his first of 73 full caps for England aged 21. In May 1998 Campbell became what was then England's second-youngest captain, after Bobby Moore, aged 23 years 248 days. In 2006 he became the only player to have represented England in six consecutive major tournaments, playing in the 1996, 2000 and 2004 European Championships, and the 1998, 2002 and 2006 World Cups. He was named in the Teams of the Tournament for the 2002 World Cup and 2004 European Championship. Other honours in the game include being in the PFA Team of the Year three times (1999, 2003, and 2004).

Campbell was born in Plaistow, Newham, London, to Jamaican parents Sewell and Wihelmina.[4] He was the youngest of twelve children, nine of whom were boys.[5] His father Sewell was a railway worker and his mother Wihelmina was a Ford factory worker.[5] Despite growing up in a rough neighbourhood to a family with very little money, Campbell veered away from a life of crime due to his strict parents.[6]

"I became a recluse within my own house. I became insular because at home there was no space to grow or to evolve, everything was tight and there was no room to breathe. People don't realise how that affects you as a kid. I wasn't allowed to speak, so my expression was football."

— His father paid little to attention to him other than to discipline him, and so Campbell grew up to be quiet and polite, but also isolated.[6][7]

Following his experience at West Ham United Campbell was reluctant to join another professional club's youth programme, but after two months of persistence from Tottenham Hotspur's Chief Scout Len Cheesewright, he eventually joined the Tottenham Youth team.[11] Youth team manager Keith Waldon later recalled that it was his physicality rather than his technical ability which made him stand out as a good prospect for the future.[12] At the age of 14 he was one of only 16 young footballers accepted onto a training programme at Lilleshall Hall.[13] Waldon offered to make him captain of the youth team, but Campbell declined the offer as he wanted to concentrate on his own game.[14]

New manager Gerry Francis led the club to the semi-finals of the FA Cup in the 1994–95 campaign, but Campbell missed the game due to injury and Spurs were beaten by Everton.[18] Campbell continued to progress in his performances, but Spurs struggled to mid-table league finishes in the 1995–96 and 1996–97 seasons.[19] Francis appointed Campbell as club captain, taking over the role from the out of favour David Howells.[20] He had a strained relationship with short-lived manager Christian Gross during the 1997–98 season, as Spurs again struggled.[21] Gross's replacement, George Graham, also had a difficult relationship with Campbell.[22]

The League Cup success qualified Spurs to compete in the UEFA Cup during the 1999–2000 campaign, but they only made it into the Second Round before they were beaten by German side 1. FC Kaiserslautern.[25] During this time he was falsely accused of breaking a stewards arm during a scuffle in a game at Derby County, and refused Tottenham's lawyer's advice to have the case Bound over (meaning he would not be convicted but would effectively have admitted some level of wrongdoing), and was subsequently told by the club to field his own legal defence for the case.[26] The case was later dismissed.[27] The club's lack of progress in the league, his poor relationship with recent managers, and the club's lack of support during the assault case left Campbell feeling disillusioned with Spurs.[26]

In the summer of 2001 Campbell's contract expired. Mindful of the Bosman ruling and what happened with Steve McManaman (Britain's first high-profile Bosman related transfer), Tottenham offered him a contract which would have made him the club's highest paid player ever,[30] but after months of negotiations and several public assurances that he would stay at Spurs, Campbell stated his need to leave the club in order to play Champions League football, with the likes of England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson advising him of such a course.[31] Several top continental clubs expressed interest in signing him, but he joined Arsenal — Tottenham's biggest rivals — on a free transfer. Campbell had previously stated in an interview with Spurs Monthly magazine that he would never play for Arsenal.[32] The move was also unusual as no rumours of a move to Arsenal had been leaked or speculated upon in the media before the press conference revealing his decision, and many journalists in attendance had been led to believe they were there to witness the unveiling of goalkeeper Richard Wright, which would have been a routine sports news story.[33]

Campbell has been labelled "Judas" by some Spurs supporters.[32][34] Years later the anger from Spurs supporters remained; in January 2009, four Tottenham Hotspur fans were banned from every football ground in England and Wales for three years after being found guilty of chanting an offensive song containing indecent language (with homophobic content and content which some observers interpreted as racist) aimed at Campbell.[35][36]

"[Arsenal vice-chairman] David Dein made me feel protected. He was going to help and promised to be there for me. Come to us, he said, and you will be part of our family. We will protect you."

— Campbell chose to sign for Arsenal for the same reasons he left Spurs. Not only were Arsenal more likely to compete for honours, but they also promised to firmly support Campbell.[37]

Arsène Wenger later said he signed Campbell as he found that when playing against him his attackers could not pass him like they could other players and that "it was as if he was indestructible, such a power spread from him".[38] He made his debut for the "Gunners" on 18 August – the opening day of the 2001–02Premier League season, in a 4–0 win over Middlesbrough at the Riverside Stadium.[39] During the season, Campbell was partnered at the back by either Tony Adams (who would retire at the end of the season) or Martin Keown.[40] He made a return to White Hart Lane during a 1–1 draw on 17 November, and though he played well he was shocked to see his older brother Tony in the crowd supporting Spurs as the fans shouted insults out to Campbell on the pitch.[41] Campbell enjoyed immediate success with Arsenal, as he won both Premier League and FA Cup winners' medals as Arsenal won the Double in his first season at Highbury. In the FA Cup final at the Millennium Stadium on 4 May, he played alongside Adams as the team kept a clean sheet in a 2–0 victory over Chelsea.[42] Four days later they secured the league title with a 1–0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.[43]

"Sol had become one of our main players, and we now had an absolute physical presence and stability at the back. He is monstrous and, with his full power and also his ability to score a goal, you have an outstanding player. With Jens Lehmann, Ashley Cole, Lauren, Touré, they were all winners."

Wenger speaking on Campbell and the defence of the Invincibles season.[47]

The following season, 2003–04, would be known as "The Invincibles season" as Campbell formed a new partnership with Kolo Touré, with the pair instrumental in helping Arsenal regain the Premier League title without losing a single game.[48] The title was secured with a 2–2 draw with Spurs at White Hart Lane on 25 April.[49] He was named on the PFA Team of the Year for the third time in his career, alongside team-mates Lauren, Cole, Vieira, Pirès and Henry.[46]

He missed the start of the 2004–05 season with a knee injury, and so missed the 2004 FA Community Shield victory over Manchester United.[50] The unbeaten run continued to a record 49 games, before Manchester United beat them 2–0 at Old Trafford on 24 October in a match that would become known as the "Battle of the Buffet".[51] Referee Mike Riley gave a penalty after Campbell challenged Wayne Rooney, though Campbell would maintain that the young striker had taken a dive.[51][52][53] Towards the end of the campaign Wenger began playing Kolo Touré and one of Pascal Cygan and Philippe Senderos in central defence, and Campbell was benched, leaving him to complain to the manager that Senderos was a "lucky player" who should not be considered good enough to play at Campbell's expense.[54] Arsenal again finished second in the league and won the FA Cup final at Manchester United's expense, though Campbell was an unused substitute in the match.[55]

In the 2005–06 season, Campbell was blighted both with injuries and a loss of form.[56][57] In Arsenal's 3–2 home loss to West Ham United on 1 February, Campbell was largely responsible for West Ham's first two goals, before being substituted at half-time at his own request.[58] Unusually, he then left the stadium, not staying to watch the second half. His team-mate Robert Pirès commented that Campbell was facing a "big worry" in relation to his private life,[59] and Campbell did not make any contact with the club for several days. He left the country and spent a week with a friend in Brussels as he reflected on his life.[60] He resumed training with his team-mates on 6 February.[61]

He was back playing on 25 April in the second leg of the Champions League semi-final against Villarreal in Spain; a 0–0 draw on the night put the "Gunners" into the final.[62] In the final against Barcelona at the Stade de France in Paris, Campbell scored the opening goal, a header from a free kick taken from Henry after a foul on Emmanuel Eboué.[63] However ten-man Arsenal went on to lose 2–1, although Campbell was at least involved in the best defensive run of any team in the history of the competition, with opponents failing to score against Arsenal in ten consecutive matches and a total of 995 minutes.[64] Campbell also holds the distinction, alongside Teddy Sheringham, Steve McManaman, Steven Gerrard, Frank Lampard and Wayne Rooney, as one of six Englishmen to have scored in the Champions League Final.[48] In July 2006, Campbell left Arsenal by mutual consent in order to seek "a fresh challenge".[65]

Campbell was courted by Italian club Juventus, but manager Didier Deschamps eventually ended contract negotiations; Campbell rejected an approach from Turkish side Fenerbahçe.[66] Instead he remained in England joined Premier League club Portsmouth, signing a two-year contract in August 2006.[67] His time at "Pompey" started well, as he formed a successful partnership in the centre of defence with Linvoy Primus and helped the club to keep five consecutive clean sheets. He scored his first goal for the club in a 3–1 win over Sheffield United on 23 December.[68]

The club went into severe financial difficulties, and Redknapp resigned, but Campbell stayed and helped the club to avoid relegation in the 2008–09 campaign.[70] In January 2010, Campbell sued Portsmouth for £1.7 million in unpaid image rights and bonus payments.[71]

"I enjoyed my spell at Portsmouth; it was like going back to a different time. Everyone was up against it, mucking in."

Campbell signed a five-year deal with League Two side Notts County in August 2009.[73] Campbell said that County, who had recently been the subject of a takeover by a Middle Eastern consortium, were the best club for "where I am at the moment in my life", and that the recent appointment of ex-England manager Sven-Göran Eriksson as director of football played a "big role" in his decision. He made his debut for County in a 2–1 defeat to Morecambe at Christie Park on 19 September.[74] He walked out on the club three days later, and his contract was cancelled by mutual consent on 24 September. He later admitted he felt embarrassed and that "I was being a mug" in believing the club's owner's were ambitious billionaires who intended to take the club into the Premier League.[75]

Campbell began training with the Arsenal side in mid-October 2009, in a bid to maintain his fitness ahead of the January transfer window.[76] On 15 January, he re-signed with the club.[77] It was announced that he would wear the number 31.[78] Nine days later he made his second debut for the "Gunners" in an FA Cup defeat to Stoke City. On 18 February, he scored his first goal in his second stint at the club with a headed goal against Porto in the first leg of the Champions League Round of 16.[79] Due to injuries to Thomas Vermaelen and William Gallas towards the end of the season, he found himself starting frequently for Arsenal.

In July 2010, after turning down an offer of a two-year contract with Scottish club Celtic, Campbell joined Newcastle United on a one-year contract.[80] He made his first appearance for the "Magpies" in a League Cup win over Chelsea on 22 September.[81] On 3 October, he made his Premier League debut for the club as a 38th-minute substitute for Fabricio Coloccini in a 2–1 defeat to Manchester City at the City of Manchester Stadium; in doing so he became only the second player after Ryan Giggs to play in the first 19 seasons of the Premier League.[82] On 28 November, Campbell made his first Premier League start for Newcastle against Chelsea, and was given the captain's armband after Shola Ameobi was substituted. Campbell started again in Newcastle's next two fixtures with West Bromwich Albion and Liverpool, but lost his place upon the return of Coloccini. After a long period out with viruses, Campbell returned to bench duty in January, making his first appearance in two months as a substitute in Newcastle's 2–0 win over Birmingham City on 15 February.

In May 2011, manager Alan Pardew announced that Campbell was a free agent after the club rejected the opportunity to offer him a new contract.[83] He announced his retirement from football a year later in May 2012.[84]

He made his international début as a substitute against Hungary on 18 May 1996. Although he had only one cap by the time Terry Venables selected his squad for Euro 96, Campbell made the squad as defensive cover. He won his second cap in England's 2–0 Group Stage match against Scotland, again as a substitute.

"When I put on the England shirt, I had a collection of thoughts. It was like going into battle, fighting for your team and your country. I would think that I'm playing against the best players in the world and would love that I could master them, control them and nullify them."

His international career was an immense source of pride for Campbell.[86]

During the 1998 World Cup, Campbell was involved in a highly controversial incident in England's Second Round clash against Argentina.[88] With less than ten minutes to go, the score was 2–2 and England were down to ten men after David Beckham was sent off.[89] Campbell headed a corner into the Argentinian net and wheeled away to celebrate his first international goal, which appeared to be the winning goal which would have put England into the quarter finals, but the referee disallowed the goal after ruling that Alan Shearer had illegally contacted the goalkeeper; England eventually lost the game on penalties.[90]

Campbell was England's first choice centre-back throughout the successful qualification campaign for Euro 2000 under new boss Kevin Keegan, and played in all three group games at the tournament, which England exited after defeat by Romania.[91]

After the retirement of Tony Adams, Campbell partnered Rio Ferdinand in England's successful qualification campaign for the 2002 World Cup tournament to be held in Korea and Japan. He scored his only senior international goal at the tournament, a header off a corner kick by Beckham in the opening group game against Sweden.[92] The game ended 1–1, but in their next match England beat Argentina 1–0.[93] Campbell's partnership with Ferdinand was an integral part of a strong defensive performance throughout the tournament, and he was the only England player to be named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team. England progressed to the quarter finals, where they lost to eventual winners Brazil despite playing the last thirty minutes against ten men.[94]

Campbell maintained his place in the centre of defence as he took part in England's successful qualification campaign for Euro 2004. England went on to reach the quarter-finals clash with hosts Portugal, and with the score tied at 1–1, Campbell won a header in the opposition six-yard box to score what seemed to be a late winner for England.[95] However, the referee, Urs Meier, decided that John Terry had pushed Portuguese goalkeeper Ricardo and gave a free kick.[95] The game ended 2–2 after extra time, and England lost the penalty shoot-out.[95]

Campbell continued to play for England after Euro 2004, although his place in the international team had become less secure since the emergence of the central defensive partnership of Terry and Ferdinand, which blossomed during Campbell's period of absence with injury in 2005.[95] He was named in England's squad for the 2006 World Cup, but was third-choice centre back, with coach Sven-Göran Eriksson preferring the partnership of Ferdinand and Terry. However, after a knock to Ferdinand, Campbell came on as a substitute in England's group game against Sweden, which made him the first player to represent England on the pitch at six consecutive international tournaments.[96] After Eriksson's resignation, new coach Steve McClaren choose to look elsewhere for central defensive strength and Campbell was dropped for his first game in charge against Greece in August 2006.

New coach Fabio Capello did not select Campbell for his first squad in January 2008. Campbell enjoyed a fine run of form on his return to Arsenal and had retained hope of making it to England's squad for the 2010 World Cup, which would have been his fourth outing on the world stage along with a record seventh major tournament for his country.[99] However, he was not named in Capello's 30-man preliminary squad, with the coach opting instead for Carragher and King among others as potential defensive cover for Ferdinand and Terry.

Campbell was a strong and imposing defender, though he initially had to work hard to improve his heading ability during his teenage years.[100] He did not possess good natural stamina, but had pace, agility and quick feet.[101]

Since his retirement from football, Campbell has become increasingly vocal about British politics. In 2013, he said he liked "the mentality of Labour but the policies of the Conservatives".[102] In 2014, he criticised Ed Miliband's proposals for a mansion tax on properties worth over £2m, calling it "madness".[103] He has also stated that he is considering joining the Conservative party and would be interested in helping the party gain more of "the black vote".[104]

In February 2015, he confirmed his intention to run for the Conservative Party nomination for Mayor of London in the 2016 election.[3] In the list of four candidates chosen in July 2015, Campbell was not shortlisted to be the Conservative Party's London mayoral candidate for 2016.[109]

In 2009 Campbell launched his charity "Kids go live" which allows inner city children to see a variety of live sporting events such as Wimbledon, the Olympic Games and rugby internationals.[116] If he wins the legal case against Portsmouth he plans to give much of the money to the charity.[117]